New laws will make history

Disabled Afghans’ human rights have been ignored for three decades, but there are signs of hope, says Sami ul Haq Sami

Since 1978, Afghanistan has endured a civil war that has demolished the infrastructure of the country from top to bottom.

The civil war has had a terrible impact on the lives of all Afghans. Hundreds of thousands have escaped the country, either to Iran or Pakistan, while a few have successfully sought asylum in Europe and the USA.

The crime rate has soared and people in Kabul have lost their concept of human rights.

As a result, not only has this poor nation suffered a collapse in values but thousands of Afghans have been left with various types of disability through injuries sustained in the war, adding further to their tragedy.

Disability in Afghanistan has always been a troubled issue. People tend to think that disability necessarily stops individuals working and living. There is a perception that disabled people need charity and help in order to survive.

The years of violence and political instability have also affected the minds and lives of disabled people. Human rights, in particular of disabled people, have been ignored for three decades, again as a result of the civil war and the assassination of our traditional culture at the hands of the Russians and the Taliban.

Disabled people have always suffered behavioural and verbal intimidation here. They have faced discrimination both at government and communal levels and this has never been recognised by any neutral authority.

Sometimes they have been obviously neglected and marginalised when employment opportunities have surfaced, on the grounds that they are said to be unable to deliver what is expected of them.

Professionals have never raised the question of accessibility when urban development schemes were being planned.

There are few disabled people working for government institutions; and an even worse form of discrimination is that this is blamed on the lack of facilities. Indeed, there are no plans or discussions at all about bringing in facilities to create opportunities for disabled people.

But now, for the first time in Afghanistan’s history, disability legislation has been finalised and submitted to the cabinet for review and submitted to the Afghan parliament for approval. It will become law at the start of next year.

This legislation, which guarantees the rights of disabled people, gives hope of a secure future to hundreds of thousands of disabled people. This historic development has come about through the hard work of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, aided by various disabled stakeholders.

The legislation will have a positive effect on the lives of disabled people. Their rights will be protected and they will no longer be marginalised due to discrimination. They will be able to work with other Afghans in governmental and non-governmental capacities and the government will have a duty of care to provide facilities so that disabled people can participate in the country’s rehabilitation.

Their rights will now be clearly recognised, they will no longer be intimidated by others and their skills will no longer be wasted. Instead, they will be able to participate in decision-making and contribute their thoughts on national reconstruction.

I feel good about the new legislation and optimistic for the future of disabled people in Afghanistan.

• Sami ul Haq Sami is an advocacy and awareness coordinator with the charity Handicap International in Kabul, Afghanistan